Astronomers from Pune-based National centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) have discovered eight stars which belong to a rare class called Main-sequence Radio Pulse emitters or MRPs.

Key Points

• MRPs were discovered using ‘Giant Metre-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT)’ located in Pune.
• Group of scientists discovered the rare class of radio stars which are hotter than the Sun. They have unusually strong magnetic fields and are much stronger stellar wind. As a result of this, these stars emit bright radio pulses like a lighthouse.
• Team had also discovered three more similar stars in the past using Giant Metre-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT).
• Thus, there are 15 known MRPs so far.
• 11 MRPs were discovered with GMRT. Eight of MRPs were discovered in 2021 alone.

Discovery of first MRP

The first MRP was discovered in 2000. The was discovered as a result of high sensitivity of GMRT.